8. Texas in the Civil War: Part D (January 1- April 30, 1863)

Selected Texas History Primary Source Documents

1. These links, almost without exception, are to documents having to do with events and movements (mostly of a military character) which occurred (or at least meant to occur) within the boundaries of the state of Texas. Persons interested in documents having to do with the participation of Texans in various battles and campaigns beyond Texas can consult works found in the first Civil War list at this site, especially The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (plus the same for the navies) and Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.

2. How to cite most of the documents in this list.

Most of the documents in this list are from the two multi-volume collections listed just below this paragraph. Those collections are at Cornell University's "Making of America" website. At a specific document page, most browsers will display the phrases "Cornell University Library" and "Cornell Making of America" near the top of the page. (If not, use the scroll bar to the right of the "next page" icon to reveal these phrases.) To determine the exact location of a document in either of the War Department or Navy Department series (i.e., series, volume, and part), go to the drop-down "Go To:" menu on the right and choose "Title Page." Please cite both the data having to do with the War Department or the Navy Department series and Cornell University's "Making of America" website. Please do not cite "Lone Star History Links."

United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 70 vols. in 128. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901.

United States. Navy Department. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. 30 vols. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1894-1922.

* * * * * * * *

Suggestion: One might also find it useful to consult the list of documents and collections of documents at List 2 , "Texas in the Nineteenth Century: General."

Abraham Lincoln. Emancipation Proclamation [final], January 1, 1863. Union president puts into effect the proclamation issued on September 22, 1862. Specifically mentions Texas as being in rebellion and thus included. [Its slaves are theoretically freed by its provisions, although not in reality.] [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

J. Bankhead Magruder to S. Cooper, January 1, 1863. Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona sends a brief report to the adjutant-general and inspector in Richmond about his retaking of Galveston that day. Link to document

J. Bankhead Magruder to S. Cooper, January 2, 1863. Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona sends to the adjutant-general and inspector in Richmond a more detailed report on his retaking of Galveston the previous day. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

A. T. Spear to D. G. Farragut, January 2, 1863. Union naval officer reports to the commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron on the Confederate retaking of Galveston the previous day. Link to document

Richard B. Irwin to C. Huggins, January 3, 1863. Aide to Union General Nathaniel P. Banks sends message to a Union officer [naval?] on board a ship in the Mississippi River's Southwest Pass: "Stop everything going to Galveston." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

J. Y. Dashiell to A. G. Dickinson, January 3, 1863. The Texas state adjutant and inspector general states to the Confederate adjutant-general to General J. Bankhead that he has issued an order, as directed by Governor Lubbock and in response to General Magruder's request for calling out all militia possible to aid the Confederate defense of Texas, for militia units to be formed and sent to Harrisburg for that purpose. Link to document

A. J. Bell to J. P. Flewellen, January 3, 1863. Conscript enrolling officer for Austin County reports to the state superintendent of conscripts that "the Germans of my district and of the adjoining counties are in a state of open rebellion against our Government." Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

D. G. Farragut to H. H. Bell, January 3, 1863. The Union commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron orders the commander of the U.S.S. Brooklyn to go to Galveston "and ascertain the true state of affairs " there. If feasible, retake the city. He should at least try to recover the Harriet Lane. Details. Link to document

Nathaniel P. Banks to H. W. Halleck, January 3, 1863. Union commander of the Department of the Gulf sends to the army chief of staff in Washington a brief telegraphic report of the Confederate recapture of Galveston on January 1. Banks calls it "an unfortunate affair." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

D. G. Farragut to Gideon Welles, January 3, 1863. The Union commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron sends to the Secretary of the Navy a fairly brief report on the Confederates' retaking of Galveston two days earlier. All Union defenders were either killed or captured. Will send Commodore A. J. Bell there to reoccupy the harbor and prevent the rebels from fortifying the mouth of the harbor. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

Wm. L. Burt to N. P. Banks, January 3, 1863. Aide-de-camp to General A. J. Hamilton reports to the Union commander of the Department of the Gulf, giving some details of the Confederate recapture of Galveston on January 1. Link to document

William G. Webb to A. G. Dickinson, January 4, 1863. Commander of the Second Brigade of Texas State Troops. reports to General J. Bankhead Magruder (through his adjutant-general) in great detail about Germans in Austin and nearby counties who are resisting conscription. On the other hand, he states that there are many Germans who are "true men." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

C. Amberg and four others to William G. Webb, [January 4, 1863]. The signees send to the commander of the Second Brigade of Texas State Troops the text of a declaration adopted that day by some German settlers (including themselves) in a meeting at the Biegel Settlement in Fayette County. It explains that their resistance to being called into military service at that time as militia is based on their need to get their crops in so as to provide for their families. Details. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document

E. S. Rugeley to James Perry Bryan, January 4, 1863. Confederate army captain writes to a lieutenant about a failed attack on Federal troops on the Matagorda Peninsula. Link to document

J. Bankhead Magruder. Proclamation, January 5, 1863. The Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona states that, because he has regained control of the waters about Galveston and thus raised "the blockade virtually," Galveston harbor is open for trade "to all friendly nations." Link to document

E. P. Turner, Special Orders, No. 35, January 5, 1863. The assistant adjutant-general to General J. Bankhead Magruder, commander of the Confederate District of Texas, transmits the general's order that a Confederate officer is to take his regiment into the German settlements to the west of Houston to disarm the disloyal and enforce the draft and conscript act. Link to document

D. G. Farragut to James Alden, January 5, 1863. The Union naval commander of the Western Blockading Squadron writes to a naval captain of a "'nightmare' that appears to seize on our officers. All our disaster at Galveston has been caused by it." Commander [William B] Renshaw, commanding the Union fleet on the Texas coast, died because of it. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

Henry Wilson to D. G. Farragut, January 6, 1863. Union naval officer reports to the commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron on the Confederate retaking of Galveston on the 1st. Link to document

J. Bankhead Magruder to James Seddon, January 6, 1863. The Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona recommends to the Confederate secretary of war a detailed plan for the defense of Texas. [Document continues onto the next page.] Link to document

J. R. West to David Fergusson, January 6, 1863. The commander of U.S. troops at Mesilla, New Mexico Territory, expresses concern to Major Fergusson, commanding the First Cavalry, California Volunteers, that Napoleon III's designs upon Mexico may include cooperating with the Confederates. "Such a contingency as a union of Texans and the French on the southern border of our territory, although improbable," is certainly possible. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

Wm. L. Burt to Major-General Banks, January __, 1863. [ The context suggests that it was written between January 4 and January 7.] Aide-de-camp to Texas Union Governor A. J. Hamilton, sends the commander of the U.S. Department of the Gulf a very detailed report about the Confederate recapture of Galveston on January 1. Link to document

N. P. Banks to H. W. Halleck, January 7, 1863. Commander of the U.S. Army Department of the Gulf sends the Army chief of staff in Washington a somewhat fuller report about the Confederate recapture of Galveston on January 1. Says that, although sending some troops there had been Admiral Farragut's idea, Banks' sending them when he did was a response to General [A. J.] Hamilton's impatience. Banks had believed that Galveston was secure from a Confederate attack. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

N. P. Banks to E. M. Stanton, January 7, 1863. Union army commander of the Department of the Gulf reports to the Secretary of War in Washington that he has sent General Halleck reports on "the disaster at Galveston" [on January 1]. Purpose of this letter: to "protect my administration from infamous calumniations propagated by men on [Governor A. J. Hamilton's] staff. His relations with Hamilton himself have been pleasant, although he lack decisiveness and force of character. Details complaints about those on Hamilton's staff. Discusses Hamilton's role in the decision to send some troops to Galveston. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

Lewis Bach to N. Major-General Banks, January 7, 1863. Purser of the steamer Cambria writes to the Union commander of the Department of the Gulf of his ship's transporting troops and Texas refugees from New Orleans to Galveston. Arrived off the island on January 2, unaware that it had been recaptured by the Confederates. The ship was nearly lured into the harbor. Link to document

Samuel Houston to [J. B. Magruder], January 7, 1863. Former Texas governor congratulates the Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona for his "driving from our soil a ruthless enemy." Very laudatory. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

Minerva Bone to R. D. Bone, January 8, 1863. Nacogdoches County resident writes to her husband of hard times there; provisions scarce. Expects conditions to worsen. Has heard of a fight at Galveston in which Confederates took 800 prisoners and some stores. [Click on "A9B2F1D8Jan1863p1" for the document.] Link to access page

J. Bankhead Magruder to S. S. Anderson, January 9, 1863. Confederate commander of the District of Texas writes to the Confederate assistant adjutant-general in Richmond of his retaking Galveston. Is fortifying it. Should be sufficient unless enemy sends a large fleet. Reports "a refractory and revolutionary spirit among certain classes in different parts of Texas." Details about the German resistance. [Scroll down to the document, which continues onto the next page.] Link to document

Charles A. Davis to William Schouler, January 10, 1863. Participant in Union Colonel Burrell's expedition from New Orleans to Galveston writes to the adjutant-general of Massachusetts, describing events from December 21 through January 1. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

W. S. Long to D. C. Houston, January 10, 1863. Long, an engineer who accompanied the Union expedition to Galveston, sends to the chief engineer of the Union Department of Gulf a detailed account of events from December 25 through the Confederate recapture of Galveston on January 1. [The document continues onto the third page.] Link to document

H. H. Bell to D. G. Farragut, January 11, 1863. Commander of the U.S.S. Brooklyn, reports to the commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron about the Union naval bombardment on January 10 of earthworks being established on Galveston Island. Link to document

Joseph Thompson to Gideon Welles, January 11, 1863. Acting assistant paymaster of the U.S. Navy encloses to the secretary of the navy a report from his son on the Union naval bombardment on January 10 of earthworks being established on Galveston Island. [Scroll down for the document.] Link to document

James S. Palmer and others to D. G. Farragut, January 12, 1863. U.S. naval officers send to the commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron the proceedings of a Union naval court of inquiry about the Confederate capture of the Harriet Lane and the destruction of the Westfield at Galveston on January 1. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

William G. Webb to H. L. Webb, January 12, 1863. Commander of the Second Brigade of Texas State Troops reports to the assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, that a committee of German settlers came to him a few days past with a copy of their declaration of January 4. That same day Governor Lubbock went to La Grange and "and gave them a very plain, positive talk," which he hopes had a good effect. Non Germans are also involved in the resistance. More details. [Document continues onto the next page.] Link to document

J. Y. Dashiell to H. P. Bee, January 12, 1863. Adjutant and inspector of Texas writes to Confederate Brigadier General Bee that, although Governor Lubbock has agreed to General Hebert's stipulations for accepting the Frontier Regiment into Confederate service, he is alarmed that some of its companies are being removed from the frontier, exposing the settlers to Indian depredations. Calls on General Bee to provide the needed forces to protect the frontier. Link to document

Jno. Withers. Special Orders, No. 11, January 14, 1863. Assistant adjutant-general of the Confederate Army transmits order of the secretary of war by which Lieutenant-General E. Kirby Smith is named commander of the Department of West Louisiana and Texas. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

James G. Taylor to D. G. Farragut, January 15, 1863. The author, a Texas Unionist who had served as a pilot for U.S. ships in the Sabine Pass expedition in September/November 1862, writes to the commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, criticizing Captain Frederick Crocker for not attempting to capture some Confederate steamers and schooners (along with cotton) upriver from Sabine Pass. Details. Says that his family members are "at the mercy of the rebel horde. Asks for assistance in rescuing them. [Scroll down to the document.]Link to document

Jesse Stancel, statement in enclosure of N. P. Banks to H. P. Halleck, January 15, 1863. Stancel, an officer in the First Texas Regiment of Volunteers (Union), states: "Our Texas traitors are concentrating a large force on Galveston Island." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

J. B. Eustis to H. H. Haynie, January 17, 1863. Assistant adjutant-general, Confederate District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, writes that General J. B. Magruder directs that Haynie [identified as Brigade Commissary] write to Colonel Gorgas, instructing him to send arms without delay to Texas. Explains why this is so important, including an expected enemy landing on the Rio Grande. Link to document

Minerva Bone to R. D. Bone, January 17, 1863. Resident of Nacogdoches County writes to her husband that some local men have been conscripted into Confederate service; others have not because they own slaves. Link to document

H. W. Halleck to N. P. Banks, January 18, 1863. Union army chief of staff writes to the commander of the Department of the Gulf in response to Banks' communication about "the conduct of Brigadier-General Hamilton." Secretary of War [Edwin] Stanton has directed him to say that Hamilton's commission as governor of Texas will be revoked." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

A. J. Hamilton to N. P. Banks, January 19, 1863. Union governor of Texas writes to the commander of the Department of the Gulf that, as Banks had indicated to him that he would furnish transports to bring Texas Unionist refugees from Matamoros to New Orleans, Hamilton is sending two persons there to set the process in motion as soon as transportation is available. Details. Link to document

S. B. Holabird to [N. P. Banks], January 19, 1863. [Banks had referred Hamilton's letter of the same day to Colonel Holabird, Banks' quartermaster.] His reply: transports cannot go to Matamoros unless Union forces control the Rio Grande. "This seems to involve an expedition up it," as Confederates control all possible landing possibilities. [Scroll down for the document.] Link to document

H. H. Bell. Statement, January 20, 1863. U.S. naval commander of the ships blockading the Texas coast, notes that Confederate General J. Bankhead Magruder had issued a proclamation on January 4, declaring the port of Galveston was now open to the trade of all friendly nations and then warns that any merchants ships that attempt to come into or out of any port on the Texas coast will be captured, etc. Link to document

H. H. Bell to B. Theron, January 20, 1863. U.S. naval commander of the ships blockading the Texas coast responds to the charge of the French consular officer at Galveston that he ignored the laws of war in bombarding Galveston on January 10. Detailed defencs of his actions. Link to document

H. H. Bell to J. Bankhead Magruder, January 20, 1863. U.S. naval commander of the ships blockading the Texas coast writes to the commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, responding to the charge that he ignored the laws of war in bombarding Galveston on January 10. Detailed defense of his actions. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

J. Bankhead Magruder. Proclamation, January 20, 1863. Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona states that, because the port of Velasco [at the mouth of the Brazos River] is no longer being blockaded, he is inviting friendly neutral nations to resume trading there. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

F. W. Powell to Abraham Lincoln, January 20, 1863. Unidentified man writes to the U.S. president from Delaware, Ohio. Renews a recommendation that means should be taken "to exclude Texas from the U.S." Refers to another communication that provides a detailed argument. Is glad that General Nathaniel P. Banks has not gone into Texas. His troops are needed elsewhere. [To access this document, click on "Link to search page," then type "F. W. Powell." Then click on the "Search" button. Then choose the document.]Link to search page

J. Bankhead Magruder. Proclamation, January 21, 1863. Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona states that, because the port of Sabine Pass is no longer being blockaded, he is inviting friendly neutral nations to resume trading there. Link to document

H. H. Bell to J. Bankhead Magruder, January 21, 1863. Commander of the U.S.S. Brooklyn asks the Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to give notice to "foreign consuls, foreign residents, and the peaceable citizens" of Galveston to evacuate the city within twenty-four hours of 5:00 p.m. After that he will not be responsible for the consequences. Explains why. Link to document

Henry L. Webb to Edmund P. Turner, January 21, 1863. The adjutant-general to Confederate General J. B. Magruder writes to the assistant adjutant-general Turner that Germans and others are submitting to the draft, reports on the disorderliness in Col. Hardeman's command and on the facgt that the corn supply is very low. Other details. Link to document

Henry L. Webb. Special order, January 21, 1863. The adjutant-general to Confederate General J. B. Magruder notes complaints that some of the troops of Colonel Hardeman's brigade have been committing depredations on residents of Colorado County. As directed by General Magruder, the order specifies the actions to be taken to deal with the issue. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

[For an account of a naval engagement outside Sabine Pass on January 21, 1863, go to this link. Scroll down to the document. For another, see Oscar M. Watkins to E. P. Turner, March 14, 1863 below.]

E. B. Nichols to Major-General Magruder, January 22, 1863. Unidentified man writes from Galveston that it seems unlikely that the enemy will come into the harbor. Explains why. Link to document

Abraham Lincoln to Edwin M. Stanton, January 23, 1863. The U.S. president writes to the Secretary of War that he wants General Benjamin F. Butler returned to service. He wants to command the department then led by General Nathaniel P. Banks. Banks wants to lead an expedition into Texas. This should be arranged if the Mississippi River can be opened beforehand. Link to document

Abraham Lincoln to Nathaniel P. Banks, January [23?], 1863. The U.S. president informs General Banks that General Benjamin F. Butler is coming to New Orleans to replace him as commander of the Department of the Gulf. The president still endorses Banks' planned invasion of Texas, although it must be delayed. When the invasion occurs, Banks will lead it and will command a separate military department in Texas. [The Internet collection of which this document is a part is the University of Michigan's "Making of America" website.] Link to document

Oscar M. Watkins to E. P. Turner, January 23, 1863. Confederate commander in the Sabine Pass area provides the assistant adjutant-general to General J. Bankhead Magruder (commander of the Confederate District of Texas), a detailed report of naval engagement with federal vessels on January 21. [Scroll down to the document, which continues for two more pages.] Link to document

H. H. Bell to D. G. Farragut, January 24, 1863. U.S. naval commander of the ships blockading the Texas coast writes to the commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron from a ship off Galveston that "the defenses of this harbor have gone on increasing from day to day, without my being able to prevent it." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

J.Bankhead Magruder to S. Cooper, January 24, 1863. Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona writes to the adjutant and inspector general in Richmond that "Sabine Pass has been cleared of the enemy." Details. Hopes soon to have a squadron of gunboats on the Rio Grande. Link to document

A. Read to D. G. Farragut, January 26, 1863. The commander of the U.S.S. New London reports to the commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron of the naval action at the entrance to Sabine Pass on the 23rd. A Union ship was burned. He intended to go to Sabine City and attempt to destroy enemy vessels there, but there was insufficient water to cross the bar at the entrance to the pass. Will try again. Link to document

P. Hardeman to Edmund P. Turner, January 26, 1863. The commander of the Arizona Brigade writes to the assistant adjutant-general to General J. Bankhead Magruder (commander of the Confederate District of Texas), from Columbus that "the Germans in this area have become very quiet. Nearly all have gone into military service." Some of their leaders have not. He "will hunt them up." Link to document

P. N. Luckett to A. G. Dickinson, January 26, 1863. Commander of Confederate forces on the lower Rio Grande reports to the assistant adjutant general to General J. Bankhead Magruder, Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, from his post at Fort Brown on the situation on the lower Rio Grande: lack of transportation, scarcity of grass, lack of corn. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

D. G. Farragut to H. H. Bell, January 26, 1863. Union commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron writes to the U.S. naval commander of the ships blockading the Texas coast that he is sending him additional vessels to use in an effort to retake Galveston. If that proves impossible, then he is to try Sabine Pass, Matagorda or the Rio Grande. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

Jefferson Davis to J. B. Magruder, January 28, 1863. The Confederate president congratulates the Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona on retaking Galveston. Details. Also hopes that he will be as successful in "allaying domestic discontents." [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

H. H. Bell to B. Theron, January 28, 1863. U.S. naval commander of the ships blockading the Texas coast responds negatively to the request of a consular officer at Galveston to allow provisions to enter the port for the use of foreign residents only. Explains why. Link to document

H. H. Bell to Abner Read, January 29, 1863. U.S. naval commander of the ships blockading the Texas coast writes to the commander of the U.S.S. New London about a resident of Sabine Pass, a Unionist, who had been serving as a pilot for Union vessels there but is now in the hands of the Confederates. Orders Read to try to persuade the rebels to treat him as a prisoner of war. Says he is "very obnoxious to the citizens" of Sabine Pass. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

D. G. Farragut to Gideon Welles, January 29, 1863. Union commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron Encloses to the Union Secretary of the Navy a report on the surrender of the Harriet Lane to the Confederates at Galveston on January 1. Is very critical of those responsible for the surrender. Link to document

H. P. Bee to A. G. Dickinson, January 30, 1863. Confederate general writes to the assistant adjutant general to General J. Bankhead Magruder, Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, that he has just arrived at Fort Brown. Has found "matters quiet and with the best prospect of a peaceable arrangement of the difficulties lately existing on this line. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

H, H. Bell to D. G. Farragut, January 31, 1863. U.S. naval commander of the ships blockading the Texas coast reports to the commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron that on the 29th he ordered the shelling of batteries in or near Galveston, an effort that proved ineffective. The Confederates are continuing to strengthen the defenses of the island. Link to document

H. H. Bell to D. G. Farragut, January 31, 1863. U.S. naval commander of the ships blockading the Texas coast, reports to the commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron that the Confederate General Magruder claims in proclamations that he has broken the naval blockade at Galveston, Sabine Pass, and Lavaca and that Velasco is not blockaded. He is incorrect about all of the ports except Velasco, which is not blockaded for want of vessels. Explains the necessity of steamers for blocking rather than sailing vessels. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

S. S. Anderson to J. B. Magruder, February 7, 1863. Assistant Adjutant-General Anderson, on behalf of General Holmes, commanding the Trans-Mississippi West Department, congratulates the Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona on retaking Galveston on January 1. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

Andrew. J. Hamilton to Abraham Lincoln, February 16, 1863. The Union military governor of Texas asks the U.S. president for a separate Union military department for Texas and for authorization to raise volunteers in the Union for that department. Link to document

James A. Hamilton to Abraham Lincoln, February 16, 1863. Unidentified man asks the U.S. president to urge Congress to authorize an army of 50,000 men for an expedition to Texas "to subdue and settle that territory." Gives as rationales defending the Unionists of Texas and also serving as a check on Napoleon III's ambitions in North America, which may include Texas. Link to document

Sam Houston to Williamson S. Oldham, February 24, 1863. Former Texas governor expresses approval of Oldham's course as a Confederate senator, especially his advocacy of receiving foreign goods duty free and his opposition to the conscript law. Asks help in obtaining a discharge for a soldier from the Huntsville area. Detail. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

J. Bankhead Magruder to S. Cooper, February 26, 1863. Confederate commander of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona writes to the adjutant and inspector general in Richmond of conditions in Texas when he arrived (with the enemy occupying all of its harbors from the Sabine River to Corpus Christi) and steps he took and is taking to remedy the situation. Much detail about the planning and execution of the retaking of Galveston on January 1. Also mentions the resistance of some Germans to conscription and his handling of that situation. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

William C. Twitty to William Steele, March 3, 1863. Gainesville, Texas, resident writes to a Confederate general in Arkansas, asking for regular troops to protect the frontier. Says state troops, now being recruited, will not be sufficient. Details. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

Texas. Legislature. Joint resolution of thanks to General J. B. Magruder and others, March 6, 1863. The thanks is for the retaking of Galveston on January 1. Link to document

Texas. Legislature. Act to provide for the defense of the frontier, March 6, 1863. Repeals certain provisions of a similar act of December 21, 1861. The legislature authorizes the transfer of the Frontier Regiment to Confederate service, with the stipulation "that it shall be retained and remain on the Indian frontier of Texas for its protection, in which event said regiment shall be subject solely to the military authorities of the Confederate States." Details. Link to document

Oscar M. Watkins to E. P. Turner, March 14, 1863. Detailed report from the Confederate commander on the Sabine River to the adjutant-general to Confederate General J. B. Magruder about a naval engagement outside Sabine Pass, January 21, 1863. [Scroll down to the document.] Link to document

F. R. Lubbock to Jefferson Davis, March 22, 1863. The Texs governor writes to the Confederate president of continuing problems with Indians and the need for the Frontier Regiment of state troops to remain where they are to deal with them. Yet he wants the regiment accepted into Confederate service so that they can obtain needed arms and supplies. Link to document

John C. West. A Texan in Search of a Fight: Being the Diary and Letters of a Private Soldier in Hood's Texas Brigade (1901). The author, Confederate district attorney for the Western District of Texas, resigned his office in 1863 to enlist in John B. Hood's Texas Brigade. The material of interest for this list consists of diary entries for his journey from his home in Waco through central and eastern Texas as he was on his way to fight at Gettysburg. [The inclusive dates are April 11-13, The material is on pp. 13-23.] Link to document

Isachar Zacharie to Abraham Lincoln, April 25, 1863. A physician writes to the U.S. president from New Orleans, saying that the secessionists there are despondent. They say that their only hope is for Confederate General John B. Magruder to march from Texas with 13,000 men. Zacharie asserts that Magruder cannot raise half that many. Link to document